brooks



3Sheets-SheetL W. BROOKS.

Fringe-Twisting Machines.

3Sheets--Sheet2.

a W. BROOKS. Fringe-Twistng Machin'es.

No.-l47,550. atentedFeb-1 ,1874.

3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

W. BROOKS. Fringe-Twisting. Machines Patented Feb. 17,1874.

No.lll'l' 550.

#1 TATES PATENT OFFICE.,

IVILLIAM BROOKS, OF BENNINGTON, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR OF OND-HALF HIS RIGHTTO THOMAS BROOKS, OF VATEltFORD, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT iN FRINGE-TWISTING MACHINES.

Specificationrforming part of Letters Patent No. 147,550, dated February17, 1874; application filed A May 29,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM BaooKs, of Bennington, in the county ofBennington and State of Vermont, have invented certain Iinprovements inMachines for Twisting Fringe on Shawls and other fabrics, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings. i

My invention relates to machinery for twisting the fringes of shawls orother fabrics which are woven with the yarns of the warp or the woof, orthe warp and Woof extended from the edges of the fabric and united attheir outer ends to other similar shawls or fabrics, or to woven wastefillets or selvage-strips.

In the machines in common use for twisting the fringes of shawls orfabrics thus woven, the border portion of the shawl or fabric isstretched and secured by teeth upon a rigid sliding frame, which is slidhorizontally, step by step, past a combination of blades which slide upand down through the yarns for the fringe, and divide the yarns intoproper quantities for strands, and separators which raise the middleportions of such strands above the other yarns, and twisting-fingerswhich vibrate in opposite directions, one over the other, and one aboveand the other below the raised strands, s'o as to first twist thestrands separately, and then together. The action of such machines mustbe stopped at the end of each passage of said stretching and feedingiframe, and the fringe-twisted portion of the shawl or fabric removedtherefrom, and the frame slid back, and the border of another shawl orfabric, or a section thereof, stretched and secured on the frame beforethe fringetwisting action of the machine can be renewed.

To overcome that defect is the principal object of one part of myinvention, which consists in the combination, with the ordinary or othersuitable dividing-blades, strand-lifters, and twisting-fingers, ofturning endless feeding-belts, chains, or bands, one having combliketeeth, to enter and engage with the fringe against the selvage, and theother furnished -with card-like teeth to engage with the woven body ofthe shawl or fabric, so that, while the machine isl in operation, aperson can progressively stretch and secure the fringe-border, of

one edge only, of a series of the connected or separate shawls orfabrics upon the said endless chains, belts, or bands, and so that thefringes, along one edge only, of the series of shawls or fabrics will bethen fed by the said` chains, belts, or bands to and past, and actedupon by, the said dividing-blades, strandlifters, and twisting-fingersprogressively' and continuously.

In using the ordinary machines, in which the fringe is stretched and fedto and past the twisting devices upon and by a rigid sliding frame, aperson is often or generally required to loosen the tension of a part ofthe fringe by hand at one side of the feeding-frame, where and whileeach twisting operation is being performed, in order to prevent toogreat strain or tension on the strands while successively undergoing thetwisting process. To avoid all necessity for having a person thus loosenup the successive twisting parts of the fringe by hand, is the principalobject of another part of my invention, which consists in thecombination, with the usual, or other suitable dividing-blades,strand-lifters, and twisting iingers, of endless feeding -belts, chains,or bands, one being iiexible or movable toward and from the other, and adevice or devices by which the flexible or movable one of the saidfeeding-chains, bands, or belts is caused to approach toward, and recedefrom, the other at each twisting operation of the machine, and thereby7automatically` relieve the strands of the fringe from too great strainwhile successively undergoing the twisting process, and yet stretch theuntwisted portion of the fringe sufficiently to cause it to be properlydivided into strands by the blades at the successive insertions thereofthrough the yarns of the fringe next to the'twisted strands. In theshawl-fringe twisters in common use, the dividing-blades, strandlifters, twisting fingers, and feeding-frame, are so constructed andcombined that only the two next adjacent or consecutive strands of thefringe are twisted together in pairs after being first twistedseparately; and another part of my invention consists in the combinationof turning endless feeding-belts, chains, or bands, or a slidingfeeding-frame, or other suitable feeding device,

and divi. lingblades, strandiifters, twistingfingers, and astrand-guiding finger or fingers, essentially such as hereinafterdescribed, or any equivalent therefor, whereby pairs ot' thefringe-strands which are not next to each other are first twistedseparately and next twisted together, so as to be separated at theirends, and there crossed by one or more of the sep-` arately-twistedstrands of another pair or pairs that are twisted together,substantially as hereinafter set forth.

Another part of my invention consists in the combination, with theendless feedingbelts, band, er chains, and the dividing-blades,strand-lifters, and twisting-fingers, or their equivalents, of a device,essentially such as hereinafter described, or its equivalent, forfacilitating the automaticprogressive discharge of the shawls or fabricsfrom the said toothed feeding-belts, chains, or bands, after and as.fast as the fringe shall be twisted by the inachinc.

Another part consists in the combination of the dividing-blades,strand-litters, and twisting-fingers, or their equivalents, and endlessfeeding-belts, chains, or bands, havin gajointed or fiexible platformwhich travels and turns with the said feeding-belts, bands, or chains,and which will supportl and progressively carry forward the bodies of aseries of shawls or fabrics, as the twisting of the t'ringe thereonproceeds.

Another part consists in the combination, with the dividi11g-blades,strand-litters, twisting-fingers, and endless feeding-belts, chains, orbands, ot' a device or devices, essentially such as hereinafterdescribed, or any eqnivalent therefor, by which one or the other or bothofthe said feeding-belts, chains, or bands can be ad j usted laterallyto different distances from the said dividing-blades and twisting-tingers, so as to thereby render the mechanism suitable for twistingfringes of different widths.

In theaforesaid drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a machine which embodiesthe distinguishing features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation ot'a section of the saine machilie at or about the line .e e', and viewedin the direction ot thearrow '1/ in Figs. 1 and 4. Fig. 3 is anelevation ot' a section ofthe same at or about the line a' z, and viewedin the direction of the arrow .fr in Figs. 1 and 4. Fig. 4 is anelevation of a section at or about the line ic tr, and viewed in thedirection of the arrow o in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 5 is a detached viewof parts which operate the strandguiding finger, and the device whichmoves one belt of the fringe-feeder toward and from the other at eachtwisting operation, in the saine machine. liigzfi is an edge elevation,and Fig. 7 a plan, of thedividing-blades and stramilifters, and Fig. San enlarged view of the strand-guiding fingers in the machine shown inFigs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Figs. t), 10, and 11. are top views of parts of ashawl-border, and of some parts of the machine, at different sta-ges ofthe fringe-twisting operation, when each pair of the fringe-strainlsthat are twisted together are separated and crossed at their ends by twoother strands; and Figs. 12,13, and' 14 are elevations of sections ofthe parts shown in Figs. t), 10, and 11, respectively, at or about thelines u a, and viewed in the directions of the arrows t. Figs. 15, 1G,and 17 are plans of a portion of a shawl-border and some parts of themachine, illustrating different steps in the operation of the machine,when the two next adj aeent strands of the fringe are twisted togetherin pairs, without any intervening strand or strands; and Figs. 1S, 19,and 20 are elevations of sections at or about the lines s s ofthe partsshown in Figs. 15, 16, and 17. respectively. viewed in the direction ofthe arrows r. Figs. 21 and 22 are plans of a part ot' a shawl-border andsome portions of the machine at different periods inthe twistingoperation, when each pair of the frin ,ge-strands that are twistedtogether are separated at their ends by one other fringe-st 1and only.

A is the stationary frame of the machine. B B' are two endlessfringe-feedin g belts, chains, or bands, which are turned togethersimultaneously and equally step by step. The belt B has pins or teeth g,to engage with the fringe-yarns C, Fig. f), at the edge next to theselvage or waste fillet C', and the other band, B', has eard-teethp, toengage with the woven body G2 of the shawl or other fabric. D D' arefringe-twisting fingers, arranged and operating essentially as inshawl-fringe twisters in common use. E El and FFl are blades which slideup and down a-nd divide the yarns of the fringe into strands as theblades slide upward. On the blades F F1, Figs. 6 and 14, are projections0 o1, which, as the blades ascend, lift the middle parts of the outerdivided strands above the other portions of the fringev and therebypresent such strands to the action ofthe twisting-fingers. In order tolessen the tension 011 the strands while undergoing the twistingoperation, and to straighten the yarns while being divided into strands,one feedband, B', is flexible sidewise, 'and the middle portion thereof'is moved laterally toward and from the dividing-blades andtwisting-fingers, at each twisting operation, by means of anintermittingly-reciprocatiug bar or slide, G,

having ways n n', Figs. 4 and 5, between which pass a series of inwardprojections, m, Figs. 3 and 4, fast O11 the feed-band B'. Sta-- tionaryguards 1l and I, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, keep the tlexible feed-bandi B inproper position. J is a finger which guides the intervening strand orstrands of fringe when the two strands that are twisted together by themachine are separated at their ends by another strand or strands. K,Figs. 1 and 2, is a vibrating doffer, which discharges the twistedfringe from the teeth q of the belt B as fast as the fringe is fedforward. L, Figs. 1 and 4, is a tiexible plat-form, which is secured toand moves with the belt B', and supports and earries forward the mainbody of the series ofshawls or fabrics as the twisting of the fringethereof progresses. The feed-belt B.' extends around, and is turned-bydrums or pulleys M M' on the rotary shafts N N The feed-belt B extendsaround and is turned by pulleys O O', which are turned by the shafts NN', and can be slid endwise thereon, so as to adjust the belt B todifferent distances from the belt B', twistingngers D D', and dividingand lifting blades E El F F1, by means of screws F P', which turn infixed bearings Q Q', and engage with nutsl l', Fig. 2, that are fast ona bar, R,which is fastened to the guards H and I, and to yokes kyk',which embrace the pulleys O O'. The arrows in the gures indicatedirections in which contiguous parts move when the machine is running.When the machine is in operation, a person secures the border portion ofthe series of shawls or fabrics progressively upon the feeding-belts Band B', just forward of the guard S. Then the machine is twistingtogether pairs of strands that are separated at their ends by two otherstrands, as represented in Figs. 9, 10, and 11, the belts B B' feed thefringe forward step by step a distance equal to the width of two singlestrands, just aftereach twisting operation, and while all thestrand-dividin g and lifting-blades E El F F1 are entirely below theplane of the fringe, as in Figs. 3 and 12, and so as to bring thefringe-yarns C over the blades, as indicated in Fig. 9. Then the bladesE E1 and F Fl slide up together through the fringe, as indicated inFigs. 2 and 13, and thereby separate the yarns into three strands, ofwhich the two outer ones, j jl, Fig. 10, are raised, by the parts o o1,above the middle one'r'f, as in Figs. 4 and 13. Then the fingers D D'enter the apertures h, through the: blades E El F F', and in movinginward twist` the elevated strands jjl separately, as indicated in Fig.10, and the slide G moves the middle part of the feed band or belt B'toward the belt B so as to lessen the tension on the raised strandswhile being twisted. Then the blades F F1, each of which has a part, g,Fig. 4, pivoted at g1, and furnished with a spring, y", are droppedbelow the fringe, while the blades E El remain elevated, as in Figs. 4

and 14; and then the iin ger J is turned below the strands j jl, as inFig. 4, and the further inward movement of the fingers D D' brings thestrands j j together, and theiin ger J presses the strandt' back of theunited stra11dsj2,as in Fig. 11, and is then turned up, as in Figs. 3,i12, and 13 5 and, as the fingers D D' turn outward, those two strandsare twisted together, and as the iin gers leave each other the unitedstrands j' drop forward of the finger J and strand t, and the slide Grmoves the belt B' back farther from the other belt, B, to straighten theyarns of the fringe. Then the fingers D D' are withdrawn from the bladesE El, and the latter are dropped or lowered below the fringe, and thenthe fringe is fed forward a step equal to the width `of two singlefringestrands, and .the finger J moves forward and holds the strand iover the space between the blades E and F, as indicated in Figs. 9 andl2. Then all the blades are raised together,

and the strand t' is lifted and becomes the strand plied with the fringeto be twisted. Them achine will twist shawl-frin ge when each pair ofthe strands that are twisted together are separated at their ends byonly one strand, as in Figs. 21 and 22, by causing the feeders B B' tomove the fringe forward the widthof three strands at one step and thewidth of only one strand at the next step, repeatedly; and in that casethe twisting-fingers D D', blades E E' F F1, iinger J, and slide G, areall operated substantially as above specified, while twisting togethertwo strands that are separated at their ends by twoother strands. Justafter each long feed step, the blades rise and do not lift the middlestrand, but do elevate the outer strands, which are then twistedseparately, and together, by the fingers D D' so as to form the doublestrand f, Fig. 2l 5 and just after the descent of the blades F F1, andbefore the twisting together of the outer strands is completed, thefinger J moves and holds the middle strand e, Fig. 21, back of theunited strands f, and when the twisting of the double strandf iscompleted, and the blades E E1 are lowered, the fringe is fed forward ashort step, equal to the width of one strand, and the nger J is movedforward so as to bring the double strand f forward of the blade E,andthe strand e between the blades E and F, as shown in Fig. 22, andwhen the blades are then elevated, the strand e and the outer one, e',between the blades Fl El, will be raised, leaving a vacant spacebetweentheni.y as in Fig. 22, and will be twisted together, and willform the second double strand d of a pair, f d The machine shown byFigs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 can be changed so as to twist together only suchstrands as are next to each other, as shown in. Figs-15, 16, and 17, bydetaching the finger J and chan gin g the dividing-blades andstrandlifters for the kind that are in use in the common shawl-fringetwisters, or such as are represented in Figs. 18. 19, and 20, whereinthe strand-dividing blades E2 and F2, with the strand-litters o2thereon, are arranged for twisting together two pairs of strands at eachtwisting operation. Figs. 15 and 18 show the positions of the parts justbefore the dividers are elevated. Figs. 16 and 19 represent thepositions of the parts after the dividers have been elevated and whilethe strands are being twisted separately. Figs. 17 and 2() show thepositions ofthe parts afterthe descent of the blades F2, and wh ile theseparately-twisted strands are being twisted together in two pairs. Inthis case the feeders B B.' must move the fringe forward the width offour single strands for each twisting operation. In carrying out myinvention, I construct the aforesaid parts thereof in any suitable forniand manner, and give all necessary automatic movements thereto by anysuitable mechanical means.

The machine represented by Figs. 1,2, 3,

` and 4 is operated by turning the shaft T. The

step-by-step motion is given tothe feed-bands B B' by a crank, c, Figs.l and 4, fast on the shaft T, connecting-rod b, lever a, pawl a', Fig.2, and ratchet-wheel b' fast on the shaft N. The connecting-rod b isjointed to the lever a in an adjustable manner, so that the length ofthe step-by-step movements of the fringe-feeder B B' can be therebyvaried. By havin the ratchet 71' formed with two teeth, followed by avacant space equal to that occupied by the two teeth, repeatedly, allaround the ratchet, and then giving the pawl a.' amovement slightlygreater than the space for three teeth, the feeders B *3' will then bemoved forward one step of three teeth, and next a step of one tooth,repeatedly, as is required when the machine is used to twist togetherstrands that are separated at their ends by only one other strand, asabove specified, and represented in Figs. 21 and 22.

When the machine shall be used in twisting` sufficiently-yielding fringeof the kind shown in Fig. 15 or in Fig. 9, the belts B B', instead ofbeing turned step by step, may be automatically turned constantly by abelt running from a small pulley on the shaft T onto a suitable largerpulley on the shaft N, or by any other suitable means.

The twisting-fingers D D' are operated by a cam, U, fast on the shaft T,cam-following lever c', link d', and arm f' fast on the rock-shaft h1,which carries the n ger D by the arm il, and is geared at m' with theshaft h2, which carries the linger D' by the arm i2. The strand-dividersE El arc fast on a stock, V, which is slid up -and down on wa Ts V' b acam YV Fie. 3 fast y 7 a e on the shaft T, cam-following lever IV', andsliding rod YW fast on the stock V. The strandlifting dividers F F1 areslid up and down in ways in the stock V by means of the cam X, Fig. 2,fast on the shaft T, cam-following lever X1, and rod X2 secured to theblades F F1. The strand-lifters o o1 or their equivalents may bedetached and operated separately from the dividers F F1; but I prefer tohave the strandlifters attached to and operated by those dividers. Thedoffer K is operated by an eccentric, Y, Fig. 4, on the shaft T, rod Y',arm p', rock-shaft q', and arm o", which travels to and fro along thedoffer. The finger J, preferably, has an auxiliary part, s',Fig. S, toassist in controlling the position of the middle stran d z', Figs. 9,l0, and 11, or c, Fig. 21; and the part s1 may be on a spring, s2, onthe shaft a', which carries the finger J. The shaft u' is moved to andfro endwise by means of a cam-projection, e',

Figs. 4 and 5, on a hub, Z, fast on the shaft T,

cam-lever w', Figs. 8 and 5, and retracting- 1 spring x', Figs. l and 3,and the shaft u' is rocked to and fro with the finger J thereon by meansof the peripherie cani-surface y1, Fig. 5, of the hub Z, and slidingfollower y2 having the depressing-spring g3, and connected with the armz' fast on the shaft u'. The slide G is moved endwise to and fro, so asto move the middle portion of the flexible feed-band B' toward and fromthe band B by means of the cam A', Fig. 5, on the hub Z, cam-lever G',link I', Fig. l, lever H', and retracting-spring K', Fig. 4.

What I claim as my invention isl. The combination, in a fringe-twistingmachine, of endless feeding-belts,chains, or bands, of which one hascomb-like teeth and the other card-like clothing, strand-dividing bladesand lifters, and twisting-fingers, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the stranddividing blades and lifters, twistingfingers, fringefeeder having one feed-belt iiexible and movablelaterally, and a device or devices essentially such as herein described,or the equivalent therefor, by which the flexible or movablefringe-feeder belt is moved toward and from the other feed-belt at eachtwisting operation, substantially as described.

3. The combination of afringe-feeder strand dividing blades and liftersseparated by a space for a strand, twisting-fingers, and strand-guidingfinger or fingers or the equivalent therefor, whereby two strands offringe separated at their ends by another strand or strands are twistedtogether, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the toothed endless feeder in a fringe-twistingmachine, the vibrat ing doffer K or its equivalent, substantially asdescribed.

5. In combination with the endless fringefeeder in a fringe-twistingmachine, a flexible endless platform, which moves with the feeder andsupports, and carries along the bodies of the series of fabrics a-s thetwisting of the fringe thereof progresses, as described.

6. The combination of the strand-dividing blades and lifters, twistingfingers, endless feeding-belts, chains, or bands, and devices by whichthe said feeding bands, chains, or belts can be adjusted to differentdistances apart and in respect to the twisting devices, substantially asdescribed.

` IVILLIAM BROOKS. 'itnesses ALPHONSE PIcARns, AUsriN F. PARK.

